For the best way to experience the culture that is unique to Ireland, go into a pub. The archetypal Irish pub is celebrated for its convivial, vibrant atmosphere, friendly locals, genial bar staff, and the"craic" - the Irish expression for fun.
Here you can sample the classic Irish whiskies and smooth pints of Guinness whose unique taste can only be sampled in Ireland. It is in the pub where you can hear the unique sounds of traditional Irish music or "trad music", as informal impromptu music sessions strike up regularly.
Irish pubs date back to medieval taverns, coaching inns and illegal drinking dens that arose under colonial rule. In Victorian times, brewing and distilling became major Irish industries that are still flourishing today.
Today you visit the most famous of all the breweries in the world, the Guinness Brewery, and take an enjoyable tour that ends in the tasting room. You can also tour some of the world's most famous whiskey distilleries such as Bushmills and Jameson. Be sure to be prepared for the tasting sessions after these tours- they can sometimes get a little rowdy!
Pub Hours
Pubs close quite a bit earlier than most bars in the States, although under a new Licensing Act, the pubs are now allowed to stay open an hour later than before. The closing hours are:
Monday- Wednesday: 11:30pm
Thursday- Saturday: 12:30pm
Sunday: 11:00pm
There are late bars and nightclubs that can be found in all of the larger cities that are allowed to serve alcohol up until around 1:30am. These establishments may stay open until 2 or 3am.
There are a number of things that are unique to Irish pubs. Snugs, for example, are commonly seen in many pubs. What are snugs, you ask? They are booths that are closed off from the rest of the pub, with partitions and a door of some sort. Some of these even have bells inside the snug so you can signal the barman for a drink without having to leave the private, cozy snug. They are usually used by people who want a bit more privacy to talk or perhaps engage in more personal affairs!
The types of drinks you will find in the pubs are quite a bit different than those you would find in a bar in the States. For one thing, the art of making cocktails is simply not practiced. You cannot walk into a regular pub and ask for a mixed beverage and expect the barman to comply with your request. He won't even mix the alcohol and mixer together for you! For example, if you order a gin and tonic your friendly barman will pour a shot of gin over ice in a glass and then place a small glass bottle of tonic next to the glass. He will then charge you 3.50 for the shot and another 1.50 for the tonic. If you are on a tight budget, stick to the beer!
Beer in Ireland - Another difference is the type of beer you will find around Ireland. Surprisingly, you may find the choices are rather limited compared to what you would find in the U.S. This is because in Ireland, micro-breweries simply do not exist. You will not find hundreds of different local beers brewed from a local brewery. There are only a few breweries in Ireland that supply the nation's overwhelming demand for beer. The rest of the beer is imported from Germany, Holland, Denmark and the U.S.
The following list gives a short overview of what beers you can get from the tap in Ireland.
Beamish- A stout brewed in Cork. It is slightly cheaper and better in taste than other stouts in the country.
Breo- This a a brand new beer brewed by Guinness and currently available only in Dublin. It is a white lager and is supposed to be served really cold, about 3 degrees centrigrade.
Budweiser- This is the same label as the well known beer found in the States but it is brewed in Dublin by Guinness and is therefore a better tasting, higher alcohol content (about 5 percent) than what you find in the States. Guinness is brewed in America by Annheuser Bush (the makers of American Budweiser), which is why Guinness does not taste nearly as good in the States.
Caffrey's- This ale is brewed in Northern Ireland in County Antrim and has an excellent all-around flavor with a creamy foam head and a very smooth taste. It is highly recommended that you give this one a try.
Carlsberg- A lager imported from Denmark with a light taste.
Foster's- A lager imported from Australia. This also has a very light flavor to it.
Furstenberg- A German lager that is brewed by Guinness in Dublin. When this beer is brewed in Germany, it is an excellent choice. However, when brewed in Dublin, it loses all worthy qualities.
Guinness- The most famous and popular Irish beer. It is a very black stout with a creamy white head. There is an art to pouring the best pint of Guinness and when you order one, you'll notice how long it takes for the barman to pour the pint for you. It is quite heavy to drink because it contains a lot of yeast but it only has an alcohol content of 4.3%.
Harp- A lager made by Guinness. It has a 5% alcohol content with a distinct flavor, light in color and no head.
Heineken- A lager imported from Holland. It has a very mild flavor
Kilkenny- An Irish ale brewed in Kilkenny. It is almost like a very light stout, with a creamy, smooth head.
Labatt's- A lager imported from Canada.It has a pretty strong flavor but is not as widely on offer as Heineken and Carlsberg.
Murphy's- A stout with an alcohol content of around 4%. It is not as popular as Guinness and is therefore not found as many places.
Smithwick's- Another Irish Ale brewed by Guinness. It has a smooth and mild flavor, and is good for that first pint.
Tennent's- A Scottish lager with a strong taste and an alcohol content of 4.3%
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